Democrats Silent on Maine Senate Nominee

Maine Democrats have picked their nominee to run for the seat opened by GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe’s retirement, but the national Democratic party is not rushing to embrace her.

Asked to comment on the Tuesday primary victory of state Sen. Cynthia Dill in a multi-candidate field, the spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Wednesday would say only, “We continue to work with people on the ground in Maine to assess the race.”

Republicans have accused national Democratic officials of being closet supporters of former Gov. Angus King, the independent candidate who is the clear frontrunner in the race to succeed Ms. Snowe. Mr. King has not said which party he would align himself in the Senate, but members of both parties believe he has far more in common with Democrats than the GOP.